EVEN THE WICKED

No mystery writer explores situational ethics more often or more engrossingly than Lawrence Block in his deeply satisfying series of Matthew Scudder mysteries. Scudder, an alcoholic and a failed father and husband, has strong convictions and a highly developed sense of right and wrong, but they're informed by a lifetime of mistakes and regrets and, therefore, seem honestly earned. Hammer's reading reflects just the sort of weariness, cynicism and sentiment of Block's hero, who in this case confronts not one, but possibly three, serial killers. Hammer successfully navigates almost all of the New York types populating the novel, the lone exception being his un-fortunate attempt at Scudder's street-smart teenaged protégé, T.J. It is Hammer's one misstep in an otherwise impressive outing. M.O. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 99]